Fuel Cell Updates for-Apr 07 to Apr 20, 2008

Welcome to FuelCellWorks Inside the Industry Newsletters, the most up to date newsletters in the Fuel Cell Industry.

April 20, 2008

These newsletters were created to allow those interested in the Fuel Cell Industry and with busy schedules to keep up on a weekly basis.

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The following news items made headlines.

Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, announced it has developed a home-use polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cogeneration system. The cogeneration system features the world's highest power-generating efficiency of up to 39% Lower Heating Value(LHV), durability of 40,000 operation hours and 4,000 start-stop times, and a predicted lifetime of over 10 years.

Electric Hydrogen announced the delivery of four renewable hydrogen generation systems. The hydrogen generators, ranging in capacity for 2.5 to 17 slpm (0.15 to 1 Nm3/hr), were delivered to customers in Hawaii, Canada and Brazil. The systems, powered by solar PV and/or wind, produce carbon-free hydrogen for renewable energy systems and to power fuel cell vehicles. Fuel is delivered to both compressed gas and solid state metal hydride (MH) storage systems. Electric power is generated by fuel cells supplied by a number of different leading fuel cell companies.les and researching the development of new power units to utilise hydrogen fuel.

NexTech learned that it will be the recipient of two major grants from the Ohio Third Frontier Program. Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher made the announcement of $8.9 million in fuel cell research and production grants to 12 entities and $12 million in grants to 17 recipients to accelerate the advancement and growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio. NexTech was awarded a $1 million grant for its Cell Manufacturing for 100+kW SOFC Power Generation System project and $549,088 for its Market Readiness of Hydrogen Sensor for Advanced Energy Applications project. With the fuel cell grant funds, NexTech Materials, working with Ohio State University, will fabricate and validate "ultra-large" area planar solid oxide fuel cells to be incorporated into 100+ kW power generation systems. Funds will be used to acquire equipment adequate for near-term prototyping needs, establish testing capability for large area cell validation and to support an Ohio State University development model.

Plug Power Inc. announced that Andy Marsh has been appointed President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective April 8, 2008. Mr. Marsh will replace current Plug Power CEO, Roger Saillant, who will retire on April 7, 2008, as previously announced. Mr. Marsh, 52, brings 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry to Plug Power. Most recently, he was a co-founder of Valere Power where he served as CEO and Board member from the company's inception in 2001 through its sale to Eltek ASA in 2007.

The state of Ohio announced that it is expanding its national leadership role in the fuel cell industry through a multi-million dollar investment recently awarded to Ohio companies creating technological innovations in fuel cell systems and components. Twelve Ohio entities were awarded a total of more than $8.9 million through the Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program for the advancement of research, production and product commercialization. The investments are expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the state.

SymPowerco Corporation CEO John Davenport announced that Carleton University in Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario will be SymPowerco's primary development partner in the company's Flowing Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (FE DMFC) program. SymPowerco will partner on the program with Carleton's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, one of North America's premier engineering institutions. The Principal Investigator on the project for Carleton University will be Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, Provost and Vice President (Academic) of the University.

Dynetek Industries Ltd. ("Dynetek"), a leader in developing, producing and marketing lightweight compressed gas storage cylinders, announced that it has received an order to deliver 10 hydrogen storage systems to ISE Corporation for the Hydrogen powered buses bound for London, England. These buses are part of the Mayor of London's plan to have up to 70 hydrogen vehicles in operation in London by 2010, as set out in the London Hydrogen Partnership's Transport Action Plan. Dynetek is providing its latest generation state of the art 350bar (5000psi) compressed hydrogen fuel storage system, using advanced materials for maximum weight savings. The Company will also supply its certified 350bar solenoid tank valve technology.

Enel CEO and General Manager Fulvio Conti, the President of the Veneto Region Giancarlo Galan, the Mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari, the President of the Province of Venice Davide Zoggia and the President of Unindustria Venezia Antonio Favrin inaugurated the work site for the construction of an innovative hydrogen fuelled combined cycle power plant. The project will involve the construction of a plant with a capacity of 12 MW, plus 4 MW generated through the re-use of the heated gas produced by the hydrogen-fuelled turbine in the existing coal-fired plant, with an overall efficiency of 43%. The initiative provides for an investment of 47 million euros. The plant is expected to enter service in 2009. The electricity generated, equal to about 60 million kWh a year, will be sufficient to meet the needs of 20,000 households, avoiding more than 17,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year. The plant is the first of its kind in the world: it will be built on the site of Enel’s “Andrea Palladio” plant at Fusina, next to the petrochemical facility of Porto Marghera (Venice), from which it will receive the hydrogen produced as a by-product in the manufacturing process.

The US Fuel Cell Council applauded the Senate decision to extend investment tax credits for fuel cells and urged Congressional leaders in both chambers and the President to agree on final language as quickly as possible. "Our industry is extremely grateful for the incentives we have in place today. They have been critical to expanding the use of clean energy throughout the country," said Robert Rose, executive director of the US Fuel Cell Council, the trade association of the industry. "But existing tax credits for fuel cells and other technologies are scheduled to expire on December 31st, 2008. The uncertainty of credits beyond has already halted projects; failure to pass a comprehensive extension could essentially reverse the progress we have made." The Senate approved, as part of unrelated legislation, a bipartisan proposal sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Ensign (R-NV) to revise and extend the fuel cell tax credits for nine years. "We commend the Senators for their leadership," Rose said. "Our fledgling industry needs the certainty of a long term extension.

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM: PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems for “back to base” markets, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH (“Proton Motor”), has signed a memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) with Wilhelm Karmann GmbH (“Karmann”), a leading supplier of full-service vehicles operating worldwide, to build a zero-emission, light-duty commercial vehicle. Karmann and Proton Motor intend to collaborate in the ‘Ecocarrier’ project, a vehicle designed by EcoCraft Automotive, in which Karmann will build the vehicle and its electrical propulsion system, while Proton Motor will deliver the fuel cell hybrid system. The project aims to deliver a zero-emission vehicle to customers such as small businesses, local communities, airports, and postal and delivery services, and to collect information on the operation of such vehicles. The Ecocarrier range will be based on a new frame and electrical drive concept from EcoCraft Automotive, built by Karmann, and an electric fuel cell hybrid system built by Proton Motor.

There are far more headlines than usual, so please visit the link above to view the entire newsletter.

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Manny Tsoupanarias
Editor
Fuel Cell Works

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